NEW LOOK GALLERY TO PRESENT AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE EXHIBITION
Thursday, 17th August 2017
Latrobe Regional Gallery in Morwell has reopened with a new look and a new direction that is set to make the gallery a significant drawcard for people from across the region and beyond.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing joined community members and art lovers today to celebrate the reopening of the gallery following its five-month refurbishment project which has transformed the gallery inside and out.
The $1.5 million project, which received $770,000 in Andrews Labor Government support through the Latrobe Valley Authority, included an upgrade of the building façade, foyer and entrance, enhanced lighting and improvements to accessibility.
Behind the scenes, the project included improvements to storage, security and climate control systems which has brought the gallery in line with international gallery standards.
The refurbishment was an important step in the gallery’s strategy to become a cultural destination for the region, creating the facilities needed to host high quality exhibitions from across the globe.
This weekend the gallery will open a major exhibition of work by internationally acclaimed Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte, whose works are some of the most recognised and influential contemporary artworks of the 20th century.
An Australian exclusive, René Magritte: The Revealing Image, Photos and Films focuses on Magritte’s photographic works and will include 132 original photographs and eight films by the artist.
The works, which were discovered in the mid-1970s, more than ten years after Magritte’s death, offer a rare insight into the artist’s private world. Many of the items have never been shown in Australia.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Magritte Foundation in Belgium and is expected to attract thousands of art lovers to the region in the months ahead.
René Magritte: The Revealing Image, Photos and Films will be on show at Latrobe Regional Gallery from 19 August – 19 November 2017.
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
“Latrobe Regional Gallery is an important cultural and community asset for Morwell and the region, and is one of our state’s most important regional galleries.”
“It’s a significant coup to be the only venue in Australia to be hosting the Magritte exhibition and it shows how investing in creativity can make a big impact on a community and help to forge a new future.”
“The Gallery is looking better than ever and it’s ready to attract thousands of visitors to the region, supporting our strong local creative scene and providing a boost to local businesses and the broader economy.”